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Cucumber Alex F1 is an early ripe parthenocarpic hybrid. In Our Country, the variety has been known since 2007, so it managed to firmly gain a foothold in gardeners’ beds. An indeterminate plant of medium height and weaving, suitable for cultivation in the greenhouse and in the open field.
History of occurrence
The parthenocarpic variety Alex F1 appeared as a result of the painstaking work of breeders from the Dutch company Bejo Zaden. The hybrid was entered into the State Register of the Federation in 2007. The variety quickly gained popularity among gardeners. Designed for cultivation in open and closed ground in different climatic zones.
Description of cucumbers Alex F1
Alex cucumber bush is branched, moderately sprawling, up to 1,5 m high. Small leaves have a rich green color. Flowers are female and do not require pollination. In each leaf axil, a bundle is formed, in which from 4 to 6 ovaries.
Zelentsy of a hybrid of a cylindrical form, slightly ribbed. The color of the fruit is rich green. Cucumbers are ready to eat when their length reaches 8-10 cm, diameter – from 3,5 to 3,9 cm, weight 70-90 g.
The pulp of the fruit is juicy, without bitterness. Seeds are small, voids in greens are not observed. The taste qualities are excellent.
Cucumbers Alex F1 are suitable for eating raw and canned
Characteristic of the variety
The fruits of this variety are not prone to overgrowing. Alex cucumbers tolerate transportation well, keep a fresh look for a long time.
Productivity
The formation and ripening of fruits occurs amicably. Compliance with agrotechnical standards of cultivation allows you to get from 1 m2 2,8-5,8 kg of finished products. Harvesting is carried out every 2-3 days.
Ripening and flowering time
From the moment the sprouts appear to the first harvest, it takes from 38 to 42 days. Alex F1 cucumber bushes enter the active flowering phase 30 days after germination. Zelentsy ripen in 10-12 days.
Disease and pest resistance
The Alex hybrid is immune to most diseases that affect cucumber plantings of other varieties. If infected bushes appear nearby, infection is unlikely to be avoided.
The most dangerous diseases for Alex F1:
- Anthracnose appears as spots. When the first signs appear, the beds should be treated with Bordeaux liquid or a solution of copper sulfate.
- White rot. Fungal disease appears with high humidity. You can recognize it by its white patches. To combat the disease, diseased leaves are removed. Places of cuts are treated with powdered charcoal.
- Downy mildew covers cucumber leaves with angular spots. If the treatment with Bordeaux liquid does not work, it is recommended to use fungicides (“Radomil”, “Ordan”).
- Powdery mildew. A white coating appears on the affected leaves. From folk remedies, you can use a solution of potassium permanganate (10 g per 1,5 liters of water). Of the chemicals, “Skor”, “Topaz” are suitable.
Harmful insects that infect cucumber beds include: whiteflies, spider mites and thrips. In the fight against them, preventive measures will help (timely removal of weeds, compliance with crop rotation rules) or insecticides “Confidor”, “Fitoferm”, “Intavir”.
Advantages and disadvantages
When choosing a variety, it is necessary to familiarize yourself not only with its advantages, but also find out the existing shortcomings.
Alex F1 cucumbers are stored for a long time, they can be transported over long distances
Gardeners who have already grown this variety in their beds note their positive qualities:
- 4-6 ovaries are formed in the node;
- high yield;
- excellent taste, the fruits do not have bitterness;
- greens are dense, with a characteristic aroma;
- versatility of use.
There were no shortcomings in the Alex F1 hybrid.
Planting cucumbers Alex
Legumes are good predecessors for Alex cucumbers. It is not recommended to plant a hybrid where zucchini or squash grew last year. It is better to choose a plot for cultivation that is not shaded. It should not be blown through by a through wind, the culture does not like the cold.
Cucumbers prefer fertile soil (loamy or sandy soils). To obtain a rich harvest, the pH level must be neutral.
Cucumbers of the Alex F1 variety can be cultivated in seedlings and sowing in the ground. Each method has its own merits and demerits.
Seedbed method
Growing the Alex F1 hybrid through seedlings allows you to enjoy juicy fruits 10-14 days earlier
How to grow cucumber seedlings:
- The root system of the hybrid is very delicate, so it is necessary to use separate glasses for planting.
- The seeds are buried in the soil by 1,5-2 cm. After planting, they are watered with warm settled water, covered with a film or glass. The air temperature in the room should not be lower than + 20-22˚С.
- With the advent of seedlings, the shelter is removed. The temperature is reduced to + 16˚С.
- The first top dressing with complex fertilizers is carried out after the emergence of seedlings.
- Water once every 5-7 days. Warm water is used for irrigation.
The operation for transplanting Alex F1 cucumber into open ground is carried out after the appearance of 3-4 leaves. Before transshipment, seedlings should be hardened off.
Sowing in open ground
Cucumber Alex is sown in the ground after the threat of night frost has passed. To protect the beds from the appearance of pests and diseases, it is recommended to carry out preventive measures.
Planting material is buried in well-heated soil by 2 cm. The distance between the bushes is 50-60 cm, the row spacing is 70-80 cm. It is not recommended to plant 1 m2 more than three bushes.
Cucumber Care Alex
Cucumber varieties Alex are unpretentious in their care. But to get a high yield, some effort will have to be made. The culture loves watering, and also responds positively to fertilizing.
Watering
Cucumbers are moisture-loving plants that need regular irrigation. It should be remembered that excessive accumulation of fluid under the bushes leads to rotting of the roots.
Watering is carried out with warm settled water. The most suitable time is morning or evening hours. It is necessary to ensure that during irrigation the liquid does not fall on the leaves of the plant.
During dry periods, watering cucumbers is carried out every two days.
The best way to water the bushes is drip irrigation.
Loosening, weeding, mulching
Loosening the soil is carried out after watering and rains. Weeding the beds is carried out as weeds appear, but the best solution would be to carry out the procedure every week.
Mulching significantly increases the yield of Alex cucumbers. The procedure is especially useful during the rooting of seedlings after transplantation. You can cover the soil to preserve moisture with sawdust, grass or agrofibre.
Feeding
Cucumber varieties Alex F1 loves regular top dressing:
- Nitrogen and organic fertilizers are applied after germination. They are necessary for a set of green mass.
- During the period of budding and flowering, the cucumber is fed under the root with nitrophoska. Foliar treatment is carried out by spraying the bushes with a solution of boric acid. Manganese crystals can be added to the same composition.
- During the appearance of fruits, foliar top dressing is carried out with a solution of urea.
If, during the formation of the ovary, the greens become irregular in shape, humus must be added under the bushes.
Garter and shaping bushes
When grown outdoors, the Alex hybrid does not need to be shaped and tied. The cultivation of cucumbers is carried out in a horizontal way. It is enough just to pinch the side shoots.
The cultivation of the Alex variety in the greenhouse is carried out using trellises. When the bush forms 3-4 leaves, a loop is attached to the plant. Then the main whip is directed up the twine, twisting clockwise. After the appearance of 10 full leaves, the stem is pinched. Side shoots in the first three axils are subject to removal, the remaining ones are pinched over the third leaf.
Conclusion
Cucumber Alex is popular with vegetable growers, as its cultivation requires minimal costs. The plant is immune to most diseases, has high germination and yield. Gardeners distinguish the hybrid for its high palatability and the absence of bitterness characteristic of most cucumbers.
Reviews of gardeners about cucumbers Alex F1
